5 Must-See London Museum Exhibitions in Summer 2017

London in the summer is glorious. Not just for the mid-level heat and park picnics but also because there’s a wave of blockbuster exhibitions that are some of the best in the world. Here’s our summer 2017 top five.

Hokusai: Beyond the Great Wave

May 25th – August 31st

You’ll know his wave pictures (hanging in every mediocre sushi joint all over the world), even if you don’t know his name. The British Museum has a two-month exhibition of Katsushika Hokusai – one of Japan’s most famous artists. His woodblock prints and delicate engravings and paintings set the tone for generations to come.

Hella Jongerius: Breathing Colour

June 28th – September 24th

While we all see things differently, there’s been years of research into how colour behaves and this new exhibition at The Design Museum explores that behaviour in terms of shapes, materials, shadows and reflections and helps us question one of the most basic aspects of design.

Balenciaga: Shaping Fashion

May 27th – February 18th

While Pink Floyd tickets sell out faster than Adele, Balenciaga is also worth heading to the V&A for this summer. The exhibition looks back at the designs and life of Cristóbal Balenciaga, one of the most influential fashion figures of the 20th century, who came into his own in the 1960s.

City Now City Future

May 25th – April 2018

Over at the Museum of London this summer you’ve got the forward thinking City Now City Future exhibition. Over 100 events, workshops and talks debate the urban change and development that’s happening not just in London but also around the world. There are interactive exhibitions on how London is a shared space, how it’s changing for the future.